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Germany: Merz Calls CDU's State Election Losses a 'Disaster'

Merz rejected calls to resign and said the CDU will keep pushing reforms after the far-right AfD surged and the party hit a historic low.

  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to remain in office Sunday after his Christian Democratic Union suffered a historic 5% result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the party's lowest score since World War II.
  • Taking office 16 months ago, Merz has struggled to rally the nation, with his popularity plummeting following the CDU's stinging defeat to the AfD in the Saxony-Anhalt election on September 6.
  • In Berlin, the CDU finished second with 20%, trailing Die Linke at 24.5%, while the Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany secured 37% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 16% in Berlin.
  • Although calls for his resignation emerged within his party, eight state premiers declared on Wednesday that Germany needs "stability now more than ever" rather than "discussions about personnel" regarding the chancellor.
  • Merz cancelled a scheduled trip to New York next week for the General Assembly, insisting that Germany's economic troubles make his reform agenda more urgent, not less.
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BBC News broke the news in London, United Kingdom on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
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